Rotatable valve



United States Patent O ROTATABLE VALVE George L. Neely, Berkeley, Calif., assignor, by mesne assignments, to California Research Corporation, San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application May 15, 1957, Serial No. 659,278

8 Claims. (Cl. 141-89) This invention relates to devices for selectively controlling the flow of a uid which may be contaminated by a solid, and particularly refersto a valve and resiliently biased valve arrangement in which the valve is selectively rotatable, as well as axially movable, with respect to the seat, so that intervening deposits of solids that might cause leakage of fluid may be removed.

This improvement is particularly useful as a component ofthe device for facilitating the starting of internal combustion engines at low temperatures, described in my copending United States application Serial No. 549, 043, filed November 25, 1955, entitled, Starting Device for Internal Combustion Engines, now Patent No. 2,857,- 900, dated October 28, 1958. This device may be characterized as a dispenser having a sealed chamber provided with means to receive and retain a charge of ammable gas pressurized liquid fuel, such as is provided by the sealed metal cartridge of my U. S. Patent No. 2,708,- 922, issued May 24, 1955. ln this device there are two valves, desirably, but not necessarily, of the type normally used to admit and retain air pressure in pneumatic tires. One of these is positioned in the single inlet to the dispenser and is resiliently biased and functionally related to the piercing pin for the fuel cartridge. This permits a spent cartridge to be withdrawn and an additional cartridge to be discharged into the dispenser Without loss of uid. The second valve, of a similar construction, is placed in the outlet of the dispenser and may be actuated either by pressing the muzzle of the discharger against an appropriate fitting fixed in the engine intake system, or by manually moving a collar to release a spray of the pressurized starting fuel into the intake system or into the entrance of the air cleaner of an internal combustion engine.

It has been found that small particles of solid materials, for example, rust or other contaminants, may occasionally enter the dispenser along with the pressurized liquid fuel. These solid contaminants are sometimes retained between the seat and the valve element of either or both of the two valves incorporated into the dispenser structure. Generally speaking, these valves are characterized by having a xed seat which is secured into a longitudinal passage in a body, the latter either being connected to the piercing pin of the inlet valve or to the outlet muzzle of the discharge valve. The annular valve of the unit is carried by an axial stem resiliently biased within this passage and is adapted to be opened either by lluid pressure acting against its face, or by mechanical depression of the axial stern. It has been found that if means are provided for selectively rotating the movable valve of this structure, either with or without actually moving the valve axially out of contact with the seat element, small particles of rust or other contaminants are displaced so that the seat and valve may again assume a completely fluidtight relation.

Although this valve andseat structure will be described herein as specifically applicable to a starting fluiddis- ICC penser of the type of my above-identified PatentNo. 2,857,900, it is obvious that it would also be used in other environments, for example, as a valve and seat combination in a pneumatic tire, or the like'..

It is' an object of this invention to provide an `improve arrangement of a fluid flow control valve'and seat," the seat element being fixed within a passage for liuid and the valve being resiliently biased to be both longitudinally and rotatably movable with respect tothe seat element. Y

Another object is to provide a valve and seat arrangement in which the two parts may be rotated with respect to each other to clear their meeting faces of solid `contaminants or other materials which might otherwise prevent a fluid-tight seal.

Another object is to provide improved inletvand discharge valve structures for the dispenser of my Patent No. 2,857,900, to insure against possible leakage of th flammable gas pressurized liquid contents.

Another object is to provide an improved arrangement of a discharge valve structure for the device 'of my patent, justidentilied, so that it may either be actuated by thrusting its muzzle against a tting ixed in an internal combustion engine system, or may be manually actuated to release into the atmospheric air intake a spray of the engine starting fluid. i

Another object is to provide an improved valve and valve cap arrangement for a pneumatic tire or the like in which the cap is designed selectively to close the'air passage leading into the tire, to rotate the valvewith respect to the fixed valve seat, or to remove entirely the threaded member retaining the entire valve and seat structure in position in the air passage.

These and other objects and advantages will be further apparent from the following description illustrating `preferred embodiments of the invention, and from the attached drawings which form a part of this specification and illustrate these embodiments, particularly as applied to the starting iiuid dispenser of my Patent No. 2,857,900.

ln the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a discharge valve embodying this invention and suitable for use With the device of the above-named patent.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a fitting adapted to be placed in the intake system of an internal combustion engine to receive and to actuate the dispenser discharge valve of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal and part sectional view of an inlet valve arrangement for the device of the above; identified patent, illustrating its relation to the cartridge and the piercing pin therefor that admits ammable gas pressurized starting fluid to the chamber of the dispenser.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional View online lV-IV of the arrangement of Figure 3 illustrating the bifurcated or slotted torque element connecting the piercing pin and the rotatable valve.

Figure 5 is a lon'gitudinal sectional view of an alternative arrangement of the discharge valve of Figure 1, in which a manual actuating element is utilized so that the fitting of Figure 2 is not required to actuate the valve and release the engine starting fluid.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a Valve rotating cap arrangement, the latter also acting as a posi# tive closure for a liuid passage such as the air inlet to a pneumatic tire or the like.

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view on line VII-VII of the cap arrangement of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional View df an alternative arrangement to the cap of Figure 6 in which a bifurcated or slotted valve rotating projection is provided outside of the cap that is adapted selectively to rotate the valve or to remove the entire valve element retaining means from the air passage.

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view on line IX-IX of the arrangement of Figure 8.

Referring to the drawing and particularly to Figure l, which illustrates' a discharge valve for a pressurized iuidcontaining chamber of the dispenser of my Patent No. 2,857,900, reference numeral 10 designates a wall of that chamber into which is secured a cylindrical body 11 having a longitudinal passage 12 extending completely therethrough; desirably, a conduit 13 communicates with the inner or inlet end of passage 12 and is adapted to convey pressurized liquid from the lower part of chamber 10 (not shown) to the passage 12. A pneumatic tire valve of the type generally used for retaining air in automobile tires and the like is generally designated 14, and consists essentially of a threaded member 15 to which issecured a hollow valve seat 16. Between the two is a circumferential and usually tapered seal member 17 adapted to be received tightly against a correspondingly tapered bore in longitudinal passage 12. An axial stem 18 extends throughout hollow threaded member 15 and valve seat 16 to support a valve 19, which is freely movable, both longitudinally and rotatably, within longitudinal passage 12. The upper face of valve 19 is faced with an appropriate resilient sealing material, so that it will make Huid-tight contact with the lower end of valve seat 16. The lower endof stem 18 is secured to a hollow spacer 20, which is retained against a shoulder near the inlet end of passage 12. The resilient biasing means, for example, spring 21, extends between spacer 20 and the lower face of valve 19 to urge the latter normally into sealing engagement against the lower end of hollow valve seat 16.

I n order to actuate the valve arrangement just described to release fluid from chamber 1t) of this example, a rotatable and reciprocable sleeve 22 surrounds the outer end of cylindrical body 11. Desirably, an O-ring 23 forms a seal between these elements. The outer end of sleeve 22 is inwardly flanged at 24 to retain a hollow plug member 25, the outer end of which extends through the restricted bore of flange 24 and is surrounded at its outer end by a resilient sealing gasket 26. Sleeve 22 desirably extends for a short distance beyond resilient gasket 26 to form what may be termed a muzzle 27.

The inner end of plug extends axially into the outer end of bore 12 of body 11 and is bifurcated or provided with a transverse slot 28 to receive the outer end of axial stem 18, which is flattened as at 29 to be received into the slot 28 for a purpose which will be described in detail below.

l Outside of sleeve 22 is a second sleeve 30 having an inwardly flanged shoulder 31 adapted to cooperate with a corresponding outwardly extending shoulder on sleeve 22. The outer end of sleeve encloses muzzle 27 of the inner sleeve 22. At the base of the outer sleeve is an outwardly directed retaining flange 32 over which a threaded hollow retaining sleeve 33 is adapted to be placed. The last-named sleeve is removably received upon a threaded boss 34 extending outwardly from the chamber wall 10.

Between the base of outer sleeve 30 and an outwardly extending shoulder 35 on body 11 is a reversible spacer cup 36 for a purpose which will be discussed in detail below. Between the bottom of cup 36 and the base of the reciprocable sleeve 22 is a spring 37 adapted to urge inner sleeve 22 outwardly with respect to the cup and the body 11, as well as outer sleeve 30. Thus, when muzzle 2.7 is engaged by an annular face such as that of the fitting of Figure 2, the sleeve 22 may be pushed inwardly over the cylindrical body 11. Hollow plug 25 will be carried along to cause the bottom of the slot in bifurcated member 28 to engage the end of stem 18 and forcev the valve 19 away from its normal contact with the fixed valve seat 16 to permit fluid to pass outwardly through passage 12 in body 11 and the bore of plug 25. If there should be dirt or debris between the valve and its seat, as evidenced by uid leakagewhen the muzzle is withdrawn from the fitting, manual rotation of outer sleeve 30 will rotate both the inner sleeve 22 and plug 25 so that the slot 28 of bifurcated member will impart torque to the iiattened end 29 of stern 18 and rotate the valve 19 with respect to the fixed valve seat 16. This will usually dislodge whatever obstruction there may be at that point so that spring 21 will cause the valve to close tightly against the stationary valve seat 16.

Figure 2 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a separately mounted fitting, against which muzzle 27 of the valved discharge arrangement of Figure l is adapted to be pressed, as discussed above. This fitting consists of a generally cylindrical body 38 provided with a threaded end adapted to pass through the wall 40 of an engine intake manifold or the like, and to be secured therein by means of a lock nut 41. At the outer end of body 38 is a protecting cup 42, normally closed by -a springhinged clust cap 43. This cap is illustrated in closed position by solid lines in Figure 2, and in its opened position by the dotted lines extending between Figure 2 and Figure l to show their functional relation in use. Within the body 38 is a cylindrical bore 44 which is reduced in diameter as at 45 and is slightly beveled at 46 to form a v-alve seat. Slidably mounted within these bores is a stepped cylindrical sleeve 47 provided with a flange 48 and a spring 49 so that it is no-rmally urged outwardly from bores 44 and 45. An axial passage-50 extends throughout sleeve 47 and is adapted to receive a threaded nail 51 having a conical head 52. Such an arrangement is readily assembled within body 38 by driving the nail into bore 50 with the parts in position shown, thus forming a valved closure for bore 50.

Desirably, the spring 49 in the fitting of Figure 2 is not as strong as spring 37 of the discharge nozzle of Figure l. This facilitates the initial sealing of the annular end face of sleeve 47 of the tting securely against the gasket 26 within muzzle 27 of the discharge nozzle of Figure 1 as they Iare pressed together. By the time spring 49 is fully compressed, the conical head 52 of nail 51 will be moved away from the chamfered valve seat 46 of the fitting, leaving a clear passage for starting fluid which may be released by the disch-arge nozzle. This release is accomplished by continuing to press the muzzle 27 against the end face of sleeve 47 of the fitting, so that spring 37 is compressed by relative motion between inner sleeve 22 and outer sleeve 30, and the axial stein 18 urges valve 19 from its normally sealed relation -against valve seat 16.

If it is desired to use the discharge nozzle element of Figure l without engaging a separately mounted fitting as in Figure 2, the arrangement of Figure 5 may be utilized. In that figure, the retaining sleeve 33 is first threaded off of boss 34 so that the sleeve, as well as outer sleeve 30 and inner sleeve 22, may be slipped off of body 11. This leaves cup 36 and spring 37 enclosing that body. By removing these two elements and reversing the direction of cup 36 so that it assumes .the position shown in Figure 5, a free space 53 is left between the inner base of sleeve 38 and the former bottom face of cup 36 when the other sleeves 22 and 30 are reassembled on body 11 as shown. Thereafter, a collar 54 having an outwardly hanged base 55 may be placed around outer sleeve 30 in the position shown in Figure 5. The outer flange 55 may then be manually retracted toward chamber 10, urging both sleeves 22 and 30 inwardly toward the chamber and opening the valve 14 in passage 12. In this manner, there are provided two alternative arrangements for the same essential components so that the parts for the devices of Figures l and 5 can be substantially identical.

Referring now to Figure 3, which illustrates a valved fiuid inlet for a chamber such as that employed in the dispenser of my Patent No. 2,857,900, reference numeral 10 again designates the top wall of the chamber of that dispenser, linto which ammable gas pressurized liquid inrny Patent No. 2,708,922, issued May 24, 1955, entitled Means for Starting Internal Combustion Engines.

`It may be characterized as a generally cylindrical metal bulbpor container for a charge of priming fuel consistin'gessentially of diethyl ether and maintained under `superatmospheric pressure by a tlammable gas, for example, methane. One end of the cartridge is sealed by a thin metal closure which may be perforated to release the pressurized charge into the chamber 10, wherein it is retained `under pressure by the two valve means, viz., the discharge valve already described and illustrated in Figure l, and the inlet valve which is illustrated in Figure 3. The latter valve 'and its cooperation with the piercing pin for the cartridge will now be described.

`A threaded boss 57 is provided in the chamber wall to receive a threaded `inlet valve housing 58. Withinhousing 58 is a longitudinal passage 12 adapted to receive the modified tire valve 14 and its associated parts as already described for Figure l. The upper end of housing 58 is threaded into a polygonal nut 59 which is in turn threaded at 6i) to receive a correspondingly threaded holder generally designated 61 for the cartridge 56. The holder consists essentially of a lower threaded ring portion 62 to engage the threads 60, a semicylindrical intermediate portion 63, open at one side to enable a cartridge to be inserted or removed, and a head portion 64 having a recess 65 for engaging the hemispherical base of cartridge 56. Desirably, head 64 is of adequate diameter and is serrated around its periphery so that it may be grasped and rotated to urge the cartridge strongly downwardly against the piercing pin, which will now be described.

Polygcnal nut 59 is provided with a stepped bore 66 into the lower portion of which the upper end of the threaded valve housing 58 is secured as shown. Immediately above this threaded portion is a recess 67, above which is a restricted bore 68. The latter communicates with an enlarged bore 69 at the upper end of nut 59 adapted to receive an annuar resilient or plastic cartridge neck sealing gasket 7G, the latter being secured in place by means such as the threaded bushing 71. Slidably and rotatably mounted inthe restricted bore 68 is a hollow hardened metal piercing pin 72, the upper end of which is chamfered so that it will be eiectlve to perforate the thin metal closure 73 of cartridge 56 to release its contents when holder 61 is screwed downwardly over threads 60. The lower end of pin 72 is outwardly flanged at 74 and is adapted to seat upon the upper end of the threaded valve housing 58 when the perforating pin is pressed downwardly by being engaged with the cartridge closure 73 as shown in Figure 3.

When the threaded holder 61 for cartridge 56 is unscrewed upwardly with respect to the nut '59, it engages the tapered neck of cartridge 56 and retracts it from the sealing gasket '70. By virtue of the friction between lthe piercing pin 72 and the perforated closure 73, the -pin will travel `upwardly through bore 68 and will also rotate with the cartridge and holder until flange 74 engages the upper face of recess 67. This will terminate its upward travel and pull the perforated closure off of the upper end of pin 72. The lower end of pin 72 below 'flange 74 is provided with a downwardly directed bifurcated or slotted extension 75, similar to that already described for plug 25 of the nozzle of Figure l, which Iwill engage flattened end portion 29 of stem 18 for a valve 14, which is similar to that already described for Figures l and 5. The length of this extension is suilcient so that the upward or downward travel of ange 74 within recess 67 will not withdraw the slot from its engagement with the flattened `end portion 29 of `the stem `18. Desirably, the end face of 75 is cha'mfered to facilitate its initial assembly over the -flattened end portion just mentioned.

`ilnoperation, the step of perforating the .closure 73 0f cartridge 56 will force piercing pin 72 so tightly against the upper end of the threaded valve housing 2S that no rotation of `the pin will take place at that time. However, as the threaded holder `61 is screwed upwardly to retract the cartridge from its `engagement with pin 7 2, the rotation of the housing and the friction betweenl the perforated closure and the pin will cause both of them `to rotate. This will simultaneously rotate the attened portion 29 of stem 18 of the inlet valve 14 and will cause the latter to rotate the valve 19 carried on the stem so as to remove any debris or accumulation of solids which might prevent the fluid-tight closing of that valve against the stationary valve seat 16. By the time the flange 74 of pin 72 has reached the top of recess 67, the resilient spring 21 of valve 14 will have closed the valve against the valve `seat so `that pressurized liquid will not escape from chamber 10 through the open end of piercing pin 72or bore 68.

Referring now to Figure 6, there is illustrated only the upper portion of an internally and externally threaded cylindrical member 76 which may form an inlet for conveying air, for example, to a pneumatic tire. Within `the body '76 is a tire valve generally designated `14 which has been modilied from its usual construction by providing a ilattened upper portion 29 near the upper end of its axial stem 18. in this example, the iiattened portion 4v29 desirably is not placed at the extreme end of stem 18 as it was for the `arrangements of Figures l, 3, and 5, in order to give a more substantial end construction for that stem. In either event, the attened portion 29 may be characterized as a transverse head comprising one or more radial projections which are adaptable to be engaged by an axially movable as well as rotatable torque element` of suitably mating construction. 1in this case, the torque element consists of a bifurcated sleeve 77 extending downwardly from a transverse closure 78 of a generally cylindrical cap 79 provided with an internally threaded recess 80. Desirably, but not necessarily, a gasket 81 may be provided `to give complete sealing between the bottom of the recess and the upper end of member 76 when they are in the position shown. With this arrangement, whenever the cap 79 is threaded onto or oliC of member 76, the lengagement between the flattened portion 29 of stem 18 and the bifurcated sleeve f77 Will rotate the stem 1S 4so that resilient valve 19, which is the same as ythat of Figures l, 3, and 5, will be rotated with respect to its cooperating valve seat `16. As in the previous examples, this will serve to remove undesired debris or dir-t from between those surfaces so that they will form a fluid-tight closure under the influence of spring 21. In this example, the depth of the slot in sleeve 77 is such that it will not contact the end of stem 18 in any position that it may assume.

Referring now `to Figure 8, there is illustrated an alternative cap arrangement to the one just described for Figure 6. In Figure 8, the bifurcated sleeve 77 `extends from the transverse closure 78 of cap 79 in a direction opposite to that of the threaded recess 80, as shown. In this example, the slot in bifurcated sleeve 77 is stepped, the outer end having a wider transverse dimension 82 and the inner end having a narrower transverse dimension 83 (Figure 9). In operation, when it is only desired to rotate stem 18 for the purpose previously outlined, bifurca-ted sleeve 77 is inserted only part way into the threaded bore `of member 76, to about the distance shown in :Figure 8. This will engage the narrower slot 32 with the tiattened portion 29 of the stem 18. Manual rotation of cap 79 will then rotate the stem and its valve seat. if it is desired entirely to remove the valve elements from the thread-ed bore of member 76, or to reinstall them therein, the bifurcated. sleeve 77 is inserted further into the bore of member 76, so that the wider transverse slot `8'2 .will engage the flattened por- 7 tion 84 at the upper end of threaded member 15 that secures the valve into member 76.

It has been found that the resilient facing or sealing material for the face of valve 19 that cooperates with Valve seat 16 may be made of a harder substance, e. g., nylon, than the softer natural or synthetic rubbers that have been used heretofore. The harder material has also been found to be more elfective to remove or clear the debris that may be carried by the fluid and deposited upon the cooperating faces of the valve and seat.

Although it is illustrated, in this example, that the fluid controlling valve may be axially and rotatably movable with respect to the fixed hollow valve seat by virtue of being carried by the resilicntly biased stem, it is apparent that various reversals of parts and functions could be made without departing from the novel and essential relations embodied in this invention. Additionally, the means for rotating that stem selectively is illustrated and described as being hollow, primarily to permit passage of fluid therethrough and for other reasons apparent to one skilled in this art. Here, too, the essential function is that of selectively rotating the stem to provide the relative rotation between the seat and valve elements, with the latter either in closely engaged or in disengaged relation, and desirably with the imposition of only enough axial force to remove the contaminating material and not with such force as to abrade or distort the resilient facing that provides the ultimate iiuid tightness that is required to be maintained.

In conclusion, it will be appreciated that this invention relates primarily to an improved combination of a modied tire valve of the type used to retain air in pneumatic tires with an axially movable and rotatable torque element, so that the movable valve may be rotated se lectively with respect to the fixed valve seat to remove dirt or other contamination carried by the uid which is to be retained by the valve, whereby the seat and valve thereafter may be sealed together in fluid-tight relationY Several alternative embodiments, as well as applications, of this invention to different environments have been illustrated and described. It will be understood, however, that these are illustrative only and are not intended to limit the application of the invention or the functional relations of the cooperating parts. Accordingly, all such modifications land changes that come within the scope of the appended claims are intended to be embraced thereby.

I claim:

1. A device for use with a body having a longitudinal passage therethrough adapted to be secured to a container for fluid under pressure, said device comprising, in combination, a valve seat, means for securing said valve seat in said passage, and a resilicntly biased annular valve mounted upon an axially movable stem provided with a transverse head, a separate hollow bifurcated torque element having a bore extending at least partly therethrough, said element being movable in said passage to rotate said transverse head and said stem, the bore of said element being smaller in diameter than the transverse dimension of said head and the bifurcated portion of said element being of such length that it will engage said head to rotate said stem without releasing said valve from said seat.

2. A device according to claim l, in which said transverse head is flattened in the plane of the axis of said stem, and is entirely contained within said body so that it does not project outwardly therefrom.

3. A device according to claim l, in which said bifurcated element is movable longitudinally with respect to said stem to move said valve with respect to said seat independently of fluid pressure acting thereon.

4. The combination 4defined in claim 1, in which said body is provided with external threads at its outer end, with the addition of means forming a generally cylindrical cap, a threaded recess at one end of said cap having a transverse portion forming a closure for said body when said cap is screwed thereon, and in which said bifurcated element extends axially from one side of said transverse portion, said element adapted selectively to engage the transverse head of said valve stem to rotate said seat with respect to said Valve when said bifurcated element is introduced into said body.

5. The combination defined in claim 1, in which said body is provided with external threads at its outer end, with the addition of means forming a generally cylindrical cap, a threaded recess at one end of said cap having a transverse portion forming a closure for said body, and in which said bifurcated torque element extends from the transverse portion at the bott-om of said recess toward the* open end of said recess.

6. The combination dened in claim l, in which said body is provided with external threads at its outer end, with the addition of means forming a generally cylindrical cap, a threaded recess at one end of said cap having a transverse portion forming a closure for said body, and in which said bifurcated torque element is stepped and extends axially from that side of the transverse portion opposed to said recess, said stepped portion is adapted selectively to engage the transverse head of said valve stern to rotate said valve with respect to said valve seat when said element is partially introduced into said longitudinal passage and to engage said valve seat securing means selectively to insert or remove said valve seat securing means when said element is completely introduced int-o said passage.

7. In combination, meansforming a body having a longitudinal passage therethrough communicating with a container for fluid under pressure, a valve and seat assembly mounted in said passage to be removable outwardly therefrom, said assembly comprising a hollow iixed valve seat, a resiliently biased valve supported 4on a stem extending through said seat, a transverse head on said stem, and hollow means having a bore extending at least partly therethrough, said last-named means being selectively rotatable With respect to said body and said seat, said means being provided with a transverse slot to engage the head on said stem, the width of said transverse head being greater than the bore diameter of said hollow means, said means being supported in said passage to be independently movable longitudinally with respect to said valve stem to move said valve from said seat and release iiuid from said container.

8. A combination according to claim 7, in which said hollow means is provided with an outer end carrying an annular seal engageable with the end o-f a separate iluid conduit, so constructed and arranged that when said ends are pressed together, said hollow means will move longitudinally to engage said head on said stem and move said valve from said valve seat.

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